Lake Report

[Bill Babler]

Point 11 to Point 22 on the White. Rangerman, over 150 K's to the guide boats today in that area, and I checked with the boys, and none of the damage to the K's was spotted. Like you, I hope it is just post spawn stress and nothing more.

Early bite was more than fantastic. 5:30 to 7 AM was on fire on top, reguardless where you were fishing. Flats, Buffends, or major cove mouths.

Got very stingly from 8 AM till about noon, and then the cenipede drag bite was on in the 15 and under range. Mostly K's and Jaw's with lots of pre-spawn K's and Jaw's.

Best two trips of the day were Ricky Liseck, and Greg Dishman, with over 30 fish per boat with half being keepers. Greg's best 5 at about 20 pounds and Rick's at 18 pounds.

Every guide on this trip caught big numbers of fish even with the abnormal prussure on this pond.

I was fishing the mouth of Red Barn, and at one point about 9:30 counted 37 boats in sight, fishing and running. At least 2 boats on every point, and sometime 3.

I was cutoff by a city block at least 5 times this morning. Guy's looking for the big-en for the Big Bass Bash.

The prussure the lake is now recieving is just about at capasity, as far as I'm concerned. On the flats across from Baxter, they were fished relentlessly today.

From daylight till 3 PM there were 20 constant boats on this flat, going it over and over. Every 5 minutes one would leave and a new one arrive.

We were fishing the pockets across from the flat and one of my clients said it looked like a boat parking lot. The other said it looked like stadium parking for the chiefs.

Hope the prussure slows down soon, as it is just about covered up right now on this pond.

Saw Capt. Donnie on the flat at 9 and visited a bit. We agreed you needed a shoe horn to get on a fishing hole.

Good Luck out there.

[Sam]

I'm glad all you guys are having fun putting more holes in bass lips. No sarcasm intended, I really am.

There's not that kind of pressure on "my" species, and I'm fine with working crappie, white bass, walleye, catfish, goggleyes, etc. out from between a herd of bass boats. Actually, we're not even fishing the same places and there's no conflict at all.

Maybe you could leave notes for each other on those short Kentuckies you're throwing back - "Hi, Joe, I caught this one at 8 a.m. on a Spook".

Naw, no harm intended and I'm just kidding. I'm glad they're biting and you're having fun out there - I know I am, and isn't it great that we've got these wonderful lakes to enjoy whichever way we want to?

[Jason Essary]

Bill, I have been fishing around point 12 for a week and a half now. Killing the small whites and cats, but not why i am posting.

I have caught several blacks during each trip, couple in the 4's. I have seen open sours and/or fungus on at least 10 fish. tails, (top or middle), sides, back, and even one just behind the gill plate. Some are quarter size, some as large as plum.

Any ideas on this, hope this isnt something that is going around.

[Bill Babler]

Ya, that's not a problem. This time of year every LM will be pretty beat-up Usually Anal fin back thru the tail, if they have one thats still there is red and scaved. Most will also have a dime to quarter size sore in either one or both of there sides. Also quite afew LM will have some deep black color marks within the scale pattern. There is a name for this but it excapes me.

The spawn is very stressful for the fish, and really leaves them pretty guant and quite beat-up.

Good thing is they are getting very hungry.